A NORTH-EAST grandad is continuing to devote his life to his beloved sport of badminton - despite reaching 80 and suffering from a stroke.

Peter Walton is nearing his 50th anniversary as a badminton coach, running clubs for all age groups in Darlington, Newton Aycliffe and Sunderland.

He was 80 at the start of the year, and suffered a stroke on the way to the dentist in February, but he shows no signs of stopping in his lifelong quest to attract more people to the sport at the grass roots.

"We mustn't let it die, so I can't pack it in," he says. "I couldn't just sit back and go for a walk, or do the shopping, and see the kids doing nothing - it would break my heart.

"Obviously, I have to be careful now, but I'm rebuilding my strength, and I just want to get going again. With luck, I'll be back playing in another couple of months."

Peter, who was born in Weardale, started playing badmintn when he was 16, and says he intends to carry on for at least another ten years.